Democrats Dodge Bullet in Michigan Primary
The party of Political Correctness found itself adrift with the theme of race reverberating through the media coverage of the battle between Democratic Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton in the week leading up to the Michigan Primary. Hillary’s statement about Lyndon Johnson’s Presidency making the civil rights legislation of 1964 possible was seen by some as diminishing the role played by Martin Luther King.
It would have been more interesting interesting to see how this played out in primary votes had Obama and John Edwards been on the ballot. After Democrats stripped Michigan of it’s electoral votes due to infractions of the party’s stipulations about primary dates most candidates shunned the event.
The volume of voters selecting “Uncommitted” still provided some significance to the results. Hillary picked up 55% of the vote with 40% choosing Uncommitted. Whether a protest vote or a representation of those who would have selected Edwards or Obama can’t be known but, some areas showed a distinct racial divide. “Uncommitted” defeated Clinton in Detroit where blacks make up about 81% of the population. Even in outlying areas such as Southfield where that figure is 54%, none of the 44 precincts went to Clinton according to the Detroit Free Press.
Noted talk radio host Tammy Bruce suggested on her show yesterday that the Clintons are playing a game of “Identity Politics” and that Obama bought into it. In other word, while Barack has received wide support across racial lines, the recent bickering over the civil rights movement and the defensive posture some of his supporters have taken has given him an identity of “Black candidate” rather that the youth or peoples candidate as he has been perceived as by many of his supporters or the candidate that will bring about the “Change” Democrats are constantly promising with this blast from the past. There are far more white and hispanic votes to pick up than black to loose.
After the Iowa primary I read a comment from a black voter who stated he did not vote for Jesse Jackson because he didn’t believe he was a viable candidate. That his agenda was not that of the American people. Barack Obama, however, did fit this criteria. And up until now the results have shown non-blacks have the same perception. Are the Clinton’s that clever and devisive to frame this “Identity?” I can’t be sure but have no doubt that it could occur anyway. It could also be a detriment to the entire Democratic cause as voters perceive the party that calls for “Change” doesn’t know what it is. It could have been much worse had all the parties been on the ballot. The way things turned out, the only benefactor of this race debate was “Uncommited.” There are more primaries to watch. And while the recent fervor has subsided it will not disappear. More racial polarization will build as a result unless Obama can be assertive in demonstrating leadership and projecting a clear agenda to the nation that speaks to all Americans prior to Supper Tuesday. [ro_30]